Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

 Morning Bible Reading and Meditation from Luke 23 KJV

Mithcah Bible Baptist Church – Bahrain 

Morning Online Devotional Bible Study – October 2, 2024

 

“34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”

 

Thoughts to ponder: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

 

 

This Chapter 23 of the Book of Luke highlighted the trial, the conviction, the crucifixion and the burial of JESUS The CHRIST from where we can view the following events and the character of people who have been the instrument tocatalyzed the ‘passion of the cross’.

 

A. JESUS’ Inquisition: v. 1-25

 

1. Pontius Pilate – the Roman Governor over the region of Judea. 

➢ Philo the ancient Jewish scholar from Alexandria describe Pilate: “his corruption, his acts of insolence, his habit of insulting people, a tyrant, completely insensitive to the moral feelings of others and known for untried and uncondemned killings; in his most grievous inhumanity. The religious leaders expected that no more questioning and he will sentence Jesus in a grievous,shameful death; however, these leaders knew that Pilate will not be concern at all with the accusation of blasphemy; that is why they brought to him these three falseaccusations: 

a. Jesus was revolting against the government (perverting the nation)

b. Jesus incited people not to pay taxes (forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar)

c. Jesus claimed to be the king in opposition to Caesar (saying: He Himself is Christ, a King)

➢ Obviously, Pilate was not alarmed with the accusations, for at first glance, he is empathetic to the Man stood in front of him, but asked him in a compassionate manner:” are you the king of the Jews?” that when Jesus answered Him, He pondered in Himself: nothing he found in this Man worthy of death. 

➢ He sent Jesus to King Herod who that time was in Jerusalem upon learning that He is a Galilean: But Herod send Jesus back to Pilate, after he mocked Him, because He answered him not a word. And the two enemies ruler became friends. 

➢ However, because of the persistent of the leaders and the fierce demand of the crowd, Pilate gave in to their judgement: Crucified the King of the Jews!

2. King Herod- though he heard of the many miraculous deeds of Jesus, after his exceeding gladness to witness the miracles, that Jesus has to perform miracles as he requested, his gladness turned into madness; he and his men of war, set the LORD of glory in shame, mocked Him, arrayed Him in gorgeous robe and sent Jesus back to Pilate. V.8-11

3. The Leaders and the people who falsely accused the LORD, even Pilate and even Herod already declared their judgement that they have not found fault worthy of death committed by Jesus,  they are firmed and still persisted. And then this came: 

 

B. JESUS before and after Indictment.

1. Three times Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the voices of the rulers and the angry people prevailed. They choses Barnabas who was convicted of sedition and murder. 

2. Simon a Cyrenian, who is just passing through, coming out of the country was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross to Calvary. 

 

3. Jesus even badly beaten and in His wounded state, still preached to the wailing and lamenting crowd who followed Him,particularly to the women these words:

“ 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

4. He was crucified with the thieves, those who crucified Him parted His garments, and on the cross, prayed for the people, who  hasdone to Him this worst. “34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

 

5. He compassionately answered the other malefactor whom was crucified on His side,the one who humbly asked Him :

“42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

             43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” 

Over Him was written in Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS”v.38

6. Jesus died in the ninth hour or 3 o’clock in the afternoon, after 3 hours of darkness in the land, even the temple’s curtain was rent in the midst, after He cried with a loud voice: “v.46..”Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

 

7. The centurion who saw these things, he gloried God and said: “Certainly He was a righteous Man.” (from the gospel of Matthew 27:54 testified that He truly is the Son of GOD.) then those who witnessed grieved that they smote their breast. v.47-49

 

 

C. JESUS’ Interment. 

➢ Joseph of Arimathea a city of the Jews, a just man, a counsellor, not consented what those rulers did, begged His body from Pilate. 

➢ Buried Jesus’s body in his owned grave which no one yet have been buried. V.50-54

This happened according to what is written in the book of Isaiah 53:1-9, and Psalms 22:1-15 the grace of GOD that brings us salvation caused the very dear life of His Only Begotten Son. 

This is the Only One in the history of mankind;GOD’s provision of redemption offered to all; but only to whomsoever believe will be free from the penalty of sin, from the grievous destruction of hell.

GOD has His many ways of showing us He is in control of every human’s behavior and actions. He allowed even the worst to carry out His plan, fo all people to know His unprecedented love. We may question why He let those things happened, but GOD in His Sovereignty, even the depth of His love and His wisdom, who is able to fathom?

 

“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” When we yet didn’t know, we mocked Him and reviled Him just as what they did to Him before, Yet His lovingkindness and His abounding grace find us when we are confused and didn’t know what to do.  

His forgiveness through His Lovingkindness that washes our sins away is the only sinless sacrifice;the grace of GOD given to mankind has to be through that unbearable sufferings and sorrow; bore for us by our Loving Savior: The Son of GOD who is ever present before the creation, ever present even in this generation, The LORD of hope even of our tomorrow. 

If He carried the heaviness of our sins on His shoulder, had been victorious over sufferings unto death, and His words is ever true, He surely is able to see us through. 

Let not our heart then be troubled. Let us believe in GOD and in JESUS CHRIST trust Him all our cares; for He said if He cares for sparrow, He surely will care more for me and you. 

 

Good morning!  

 

 

Luke 23KJV 

[1]And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 

[2] And they began to accuse him, saying, Wefound this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 

[3] And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 

[4] Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 

[5] And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 

[6] When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 

[7] And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 

[8] And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 

[9] Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 

[10] And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 

[11] And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 

[12] And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 

[13] And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 

[14] Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 

[15] No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 

[16] I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

[17] (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) 

[18] And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: 

[19] (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 

[20] Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. [21] But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 

[22] And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 

[23] And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 

[24] And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 

[25] And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. 

[26] And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.